THE EVOLUTION OF AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS DURING 12-MONTH FOLLOW-UP STUDY OF A CORSAR COHORT

Until recently there is no clarity in the nosological independence of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis  (nraxSpA). Cohort studies can assist in solving this problem. In 2013, the V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology started to form a Cost and Resource utilization Study in Antiretroviral treated patients (CoRSaR) cohort to investigate the evolution of nr-axSpA and treatment policy for this condition.  This communication deals with the preliminary results of a 12-month follow-up study of the CoRSaR  cohort.

Subjects and methods. The cohort was recruited  from all consecutive patients with a < 5-year history of nr-axSpA who sought for medical advice and treatment. The patients were examined in accordance  with the Ankylosing Spondylitis Assessments (ASAS) International Working Group  guidelines at inclusion and after 12 months.

A total of 94 patients with axSpA were enrolled; 54 patients out of them were included into a preliminary analysis of the evolution of axSpA; their mean age at inclusion was 27.1±5.5  years and the mean disease duration  was 22.4±15.1 months;  49 (90.7%) patients were HLA-B27 positive. 31 of the 54 patients had ankylosing spondylitis(AS) and 23 had nr-axSpA.

Results and discussion. The patients with AS and those with nr-axSpA showed virtually no difference in main clinical parameters,  such as the presence of arthritis, enthesitis, BASDAI, ASDAS-CRP, and BASFI. By the end of the 12month follow-up, both groups virtually displayed almost a double reduction  in all inflammatory markers but erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Nine (39%) patients with nr-axSpA developed radiographic sacroiliitis over 12 months and the diagnosis of AS was confirmed.

Conclusion. 39% patients with nr-axSpA developed radiographic sacroiliitis at the 12-month follow-up. Nr-axSpA should be regarded as an early stage of AS.

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